But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:41-42 NASB)
A very interesting thing happened at Martha's house the day Jesus came to visit. After He arrived, he went straight to the business of preaching. That's probably not what He would have called it, but he sat down and started talking. When He talked, He spoke truth that needed to be heard, and Mary did not want to miss a word. She positioned herself at His feet and listened intently. Martha, however, was scurrying about, "making preparations" for her guests, but not spending time with those guests.
As we have seen, Martha was frustrated with Mary for not helping her and that frustration rose to such a point that Martha took her anger to Jesus. "Mary is not helping! You come here with a dozen men and it is a lot of work to take care of You! Tell her to come and help me!" That's not how she said it, but it was the essence of what she said. Martha went to Jesus expecting that He would defend her. What a surprise it was for her when He did not!
It's interesting to me that Mary sat at the feet of Jesus and did not say a word. She did not get up, either. I would have popped up and hurried to calm the conflict. I would have wanted to defend myself. Not Mary. She sat calmly at the feet of Jesus and stayed put, letting Jesus defend her if He would, and defend her is exactly what He did.
Scripture is filled with images of our Lord as a strong tower, a defense in time of trouble, a refuge in the storm, and Mary found that to be true in the small storm brewing around her at Martha's house. Our Lord is a strong tower and we can run to Him for refuge.
For Thou hast been a defense for the helpless, a defense for the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, and shade from the heat; for the breath of the ruthless is like a rain storm against a wall. Isaiah 25:4 NASB
He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. Psalm 91:4 NASB
My tendency is to want Jesus to defend me, no matter what, but a look at this passage shows us that, in the dispute between two much loved women, Jesus chose the part of the one at His feet. The refuge under His wings described in Psalm 91:4 is a beautiful place, but it is promised to the one who "dwells in the shelter of the Most High."
"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide n the shadow of the Almighty."
Psalm 91:1 NASB
Many times, Israel found themselves on the receiving end of discipline from the Lord that they did not expect. Israel, though much loved and blessed by God, was also disciplined by Him when they turned away from Him. It was only when their hearts turned back toward Him that His defense would come.
This is a hard word, and I hesitate to speak it, but it is one we would do well to consider. It is one I, myself, need to remember. Our Lord will not defend my sin. If I choose the way of the world, I should not expect Him to embrace my choice nor to defend my choice. It is only when I choose "the good part" that He will defend the choice I have made. Will He still love me when I do wrong? Of course, He still loves us, but our perfect God has no part with the sin of this world except to cleanse us from it.
The beautiful truth that Mary found is one I have found as well. The faithful disciple can count on our faithful Lord to defend our walk of obedience. What uncommon, unbounded, amazing grace is found when I embrace the simple life of following Him. In that walk of discipleship, I do not have to defend myself, for my Lord will rise to my defense Himself. He is a strong tower, and, though the breath of the ruthless come against that tower like a raging storm, the walls will hold. (Isaiah 25:4) Isn't that a beautiful image?
Dear ones, may you and I position ourselves at the feet of Jesus, staying there no matter what storm comes against us, confident that our Lord will not only protect us, He will defend us, as well.
Showing posts with label Martha and Mary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Martha and Mary. Show all posts
Friday, February 20, 2015
Thursday, February 19, 2015
A Visit at Martha's House, part 19: Where to find gratification
But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:41-42 NASB)
As I have written before, my favorite theologian and commentator is Matthew Henry (1662-1714). His words, though written several centuries ago, still ring true. Henry cuts like a blade to the heart of Martha's distress, and, unfortunately, to my own. "He (Jesus) was not pleased that she should think to please him with a rich and splendid entertainment, and with perplexing herself to prepare it for him; whereas he would teach us, as not to be sensual in using such things... The many things she was troubled about were needless, while the one thing she neglected was needful."
Think about that for a minute. Martha was troubled about her preparations because she was trying to present a "splendid entertainment" to Jesus, thinking that she would impress and please Him with the lovely and lavish presentation. Martha expected to be gratified by Jesus' response to the details of her presentation. She was going to do a great and memorable job, make a fantastic meal, and Jesus would be impressed. She would get the credit and revel in the kudos. I've been guilty of this, and on more than one occasion. What concerns Jesus is not the lavishness of our service, and it is not that we did such an elaborate effort that we were completely exhausted by it. What concerns Jesus is the heart with which we do that service. A simple presentation done by a heart filled with love is infinitely preferable to an elaborate work done by a grumpy, irritable heart.
Martha anticipated that her own gratification would come when Jesus praised her for all her hard work. She must have been sorely disappointed when Mary received His praise instead. It is not the work of our hands that most pleases Jesus. It is the work of our hearts. This is a truth that has been hard for me to learn, but one that is very freeing. It took years for me to understand that a plastic tablecloth placed with love is infinitely better than a lace tablecloth starched, ironed, and placed with resentment.
Henry's words about the "one thing" are so insightful that we do well to consider them. "Godliness unites the heart, which the world had divided." When I pursue godliness as my aim, the divisions the world would make in my heart are united. It is an astounding truth that, when we are overwhelmed by the things of this world, tugged and torn in every direction, uncertain which way to go, we can find both peace and the answers we seek at the feet of Jesus. Godliness unites the heart.
Do we want to impress Jesus? There is only one way to do that, and it is the way of Mary. Do we want to find gratification in our service? There is one sure way to find that, and it, too, is the way of Mary. When you and I serve with love, when we make godliness our aim, we not only please our Lord, we find joy and contentment for ourselves. Let's begin our day, then, in the most important way. Seated, listening, at the feet of the Master. As we go our way, let us serve, nor from compulsion, but from love.
As I have written before, my favorite theologian and commentator is Matthew Henry (1662-1714). His words, though written several centuries ago, still ring true. Henry cuts like a blade to the heart of Martha's distress, and, unfortunately, to my own. "He (Jesus) was not pleased that she should think to please him with a rich and splendid entertainment, and with perplexing herself to prepare it for him; whereas he would teach us, as not to be sensual in using such things... The many things she was troubled about were needless, while the one thing she neglected was needful."
Think about that for a minute. Martha was troubled about her preparations because she was trying to present a "splendid entertainment" to Jesus, thinking that she would impress and please Him with the lovely and lavish presentation. Martha expected to be gratified by Jesus' response to the details of her presentation. She was going to do a great and memorable job, make a fantastic meal, and Jesus would be impressed. She would get the credit and revel in the kudos. I've been guilty of this, and on more than one occasion. What concerns Jesus is not the lavishness of our service, and it is not that we did such an elaborate effort that we were completely exhausted by it. What concerns Jesus is the heart with which we do that service. A simple presentation done by a heart filled with love is infinitely preferable to an elaborate work done by a grumpy, irritable heart.
Martha anticipated that her own gratification would come when Jesus praised her for all her hard work. She must have been sorely disappointed when Mary received His praise instead. It is not the work of our hands that most pleases Jesus. It is the work of our hearts. This is a truth that has been hard for me to learn, but one that is very freeing. It took years for me to understand that a plastic tablecloth placed with love is infinitely better than a lace tablecloth starched, ironed, and placed with resentment.
Henry's words about the "one thing" are so insightful that we do well to consider them. "Godliness unites the heart, which the world had divided." When I pursue godliness as my aim, the divisions the world would make in my heart are united. It is an astounding truth that, when we are overwhelmed by the things of this world, tugged and torn in every direction, uncertain which way to go, we can find both peace and the answers we seek at the feet of Jesus. Godliness unites the heart.
Do we want to impress Jesus? There is only one way to do that, and it is the way of Mary. Do we want to find gratification in our service? There is one sure way to find that, and it, too, is the way of Mary. When you and I serve with love, when we make godliness our aim, we not only please our Lord, we find joy and contentment for ourselves. Let's begin our day, then, in the most important way. Seated, listening, at the feet of the Master. As we go our way, let us serve, nor from compulsion, but from love.
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
A Visit at Martha's House, part 18: Storage
But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:41-42 NASB)
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21 NASB)
This business of "shall not be taken away from her" is so important that we are visiting it again today. The word translated as "taken away" is aphaireĊ and is the same word used to describe the "taking away" of our sins, which are removed as far as the east is from the west. When God cleanses us of our sin, He removes that sin permanently and completely. We may commit that sin (or some other) again and require additional forgiveness, but that particular sin is gone.
The beautiful promise we find here is that there are some things that cannot ever be removed. What Mary found at the feet of Jesus was one of those things. Mary had made the choice to seek first the Kingdom of God, and the truth Christ poured into her when she sat at his feet was hers forever. No one could take it away from her.
What is even more amazing is that, when I humble myself at the feet of Jesus, when I study Scripture and seek His truth, what I gain is mine forever. No one can take it away. When I live His truth, it becomes a permanent part of me. I like to think of the life of faith as a grand investment that never fails. I've made plenty of investments over the years that failed to bring a return, but this is one investment that never fails to pay a dividend. It is that "storing up in heaven" that nothing can disturb. No stock market crash can affect that treasure, no thief can steal it. Isn't that comforting news?
As we go about our days, we invest our time in all manner of activities, from exercise and housework to business, clubs, public service, and church work. There is certainly a need for all those things, but there is only one investment of time that will pay an eternal dividend. Dear ones, when we seek first the Kingdom of God, we are richly repaid with treasure that can never be lost. Let's be sure that we make that most important eternal investment first, before all others, confident that the gain is ours forever.
This business of "shall not be taken away from her" is so important that we are visiting it again today. The word translated as "taken away" is aphaireĊ and is the same word used to describe the "taking away" of our sins, which are removed as far as the east is from the west. When God cleanses us of our sin, He removes that sin permanently and completely. We may commit that sin (or some other) again and require additional forgiveness, but that particular sin is gone.
The beautiful promise we find here is that there are some things that cannot ever be removed. What Mary found at the feet of Jesus was one of those things. Mary had made the choice to seek first the Kingdom of God, and the truth Christ poured into her when she sat at his feet was hers forever. No one could take it away from her.
What is even more amazing is that, when I humble myself at the feet of Jesus, when I study Scripture and seek His truth, what I gain is mine forever. No one can take it away. When I live His truth, it becomes a permanent part of me. I like to think of the life of faith as a grand investment that never fails. I've made plenty of investments over the years that failed to bring a return, but this is one investment that never fails to pay a dividend. It is that "storing up in heaven" that nothing can disturb. No stock market crash can affect that treasure, no thief can steal it. Isn't that comforting news?
As we go about our days, we invest our time in all manner of activities, from exercise and housework to business, clubs, public service, and church work. There is certainly a need for all those things, but there is only one investment of time that will pay an eternal dividend. Dear ones, when we seek first the Kingdom of God, we are richly repaid with treasure that can never be lost. Let's be sure that we make that most important eternal investment first, before all others, confident that the gain is ours forever.
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
A visit at Martha's house, part 17: Priority
But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:41-42 NASB)
We come now to the last phrase in our Lord's reply to Martha, and it is beautiful. Listen with your heart to these words again, "Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." In the midst of many choices and distractions, Mary had positioned herself at the feet of our Lord, and He defended her choice. In fact, His words left no doubt. What she had chosen "shall not" be taken away from her. The important part of Mary's choice was not just that she initially made the choice. The important part, the part that gained the commendation of Christ, was that she stayed put, despite the interruptions and distractions. Because she demonstrated by her actions that she was serious about her time with Christ, He was serious about protecting that time.
In the early years of my faith, the busyness of my life easily crowded out my time for Bible study, meditation, and worship. It was only when I made a serious change in priority, making time with my Lord the first priority, that I began to learn the truth of these words. Was it hard to carve out that time? Of course. I chose the time at the beginning of my day for worship and Bible study, which meant that I would be getting up earlier and sleeping a little less. The first one who had to understand that I meant business about the new schedule was me. Did my family suffer as a result of my decision? Certainly not, but the new schedule did mean that I arose earlier and had to do more to prepare for our morning the night before.
Just as Mary found, when I became seriously committed to my time with our Lord, He was equally committed to protecting that time. There are still interruptions and distractions, but far fewer than at the beginning, because the words of Christ are as true for me and you as they were for Mary. Though the choice to spend time with our Lord is one that must be made over and over again, what I have chosen, what we have chosen, in terms of time with Christ, will not be taken away from us.
Jesus was referring to Mary's choice of time with Him over housework and "preparations" but He was also referring to her heart of love for Him. Her pure, unbounded love gave Him great delight, and He would not have it snatched away by the condemnation or judgment of her sister. He protected her loving heart, just as He longs to do for us.
Please don't mistake my intent here. Housework and meal preparation have to be done, as well as the work of earning a living, and there were tasks that even Mary could not avoid. The problem is not doing the work of running a household or earning a living; the problem is one of priority. Which is most important to us? Is it getting all the work done in a certain manner and by a certain time or is it serving Christ with every action, every step we take?
King David learned the importance of priority and made time with God the predominant prayer of His life. May we, too, pray (and seek) with David, that we might dwell in the presence of our Lord, both in solitude as well as while we go along our way, all the days of our lives.
We come now to the last phrase in our Lord's reply to Martha, and it is beautiful. Listen with your heart to these words again, "Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." In the midst of many choices and distractions, Mary had positioned herself at the feet of our Lord, and He defended her choice. In fact, His words left no doubt. What she had chosen "shall not" be taken away from her. The important part of Mary's choice was not just that she initially made the choice. The important part, the part that gained the commendation of Christ, was that she stayed put, despite the interruptions and distractions. Because she demonstrated by her actions that she was serious about her time with Christ, He was serious about protecting that time.
In the early years of my faith, the busyness of my life easily crowded out my time for Bible study, meditation, and worship. It was only when I made a serious change in priority, making time with my Lord the first priority, that I began to learn the truth of these words. Was it hard to carve out that time? Of course. I chose the time at the beginning of my day for worship and Bible study, which meant that I would be getting up earlier and sleeping a little less. The first one who had to understand that I meant business about the new schedule was me. Did my family suffer as a result of my decision? Certainly not, but the new schedule did mean that I arose earlier and had to do more to prepare for our morning the night before.
Just as Mary found, when I became seriously committed to my time with our Lord, He was equally committed to protecting that time. There are still interruptions and distractions, but far fewer than at the beginning, because the words of Christ are as true for me and you as they were for Mary. Though the choice to spend time with our Lord is one that must be made over and over again, what I have chosen, what we have chosen, in terms of time with Christ, will not be taken away from us.
Jesus was referring to Mary's choice of time with Him over housework and "preparations" but He was also referring to her heart of love for Him. Her pure, unbounded love gave Him great delight, and He would not have it snatched away by the condemnation or judgment of her sister. He protected her loving heart, just as He longs to do for us.
Please don't mistake my intent here. Housework and meal preparation have to be done, as well as the work of earning a living, and there were tasks that even Mary could not avoid. The problem is not doing the work of running a household or earning a living; the problem is one of priority. Which is most important to us? Is it getting all the work done in a certain manner and by a certain time or is it serving Christ with every action, every step we take?
King David learned the importance of priority and made time with God the predominant prayer of His life. May we, too, pray (and seek) with David, that we might dwell in the presence of our Lord, both in solitude as well as while we go along our way, all the days of our lives.
One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD And to meditate in His temple. (Psalms 27:4 NASB)
Monday, February 16, 2015
A visit at Martha' House, part 16: The good share
But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:41-42 NASB)
Jesus has such lovely manners! He could have slammed Martha with condemnation for her manner of address, her irritation, her attitude toward her sister, but He did none of those. Instead, he talked about the good choice Mary had made, and did it without really mentioning Martha's specific choice.
Mary, he said, had chosen the "good part", and that is the part I want to choose, as well. The word translated here as "good" is agathos and it is used to indicate good or useful. The word translated as "part" is meris and means "a part of the whole". Vine's describes the word as "a share, as of an inheritance". Putting the two words together, we find that agathos meris indicates the "best part" or the "best share of the inheritance". Thayer translates the two words together as a phrase meaning "the good part, which insures salvation to him who chooses it". Mary's choice gave her something very valuable, didn't it?
Of all the things the two women could have chosen that day, all the parts of the visit, Mary chose the one part that would give her salvation from the consequences of her sin and eternal life, as well. Mary's choice is even more appealing when we realize what Martha's choice netted for her. At the end of all her busyness, she probably had a clean house and a big meal, as well as an angry, frustrated heart and a very grumpy attitude, but no time spent with Jesus, no peace, no joy. This dichotomy of choice is true in my own life, as well. When I choose to spend time with Jesus, I find peace and joy in His presence, as well as direction for my day. When I choose the way of Martha, I find that same grumpy attitude that she found. Being busy makes the day go faster, and that sometimes seems like a good thing to me. Being busy and grumpy, however, is not.
What I want to do, what I must do, is choose the path of Mary, who made time with her Lord the priority of her life, above all others, for I want what Mary gained. Dear ones, you, too, have a choice to make. Will you choose the path of Mary? Will you choose the path that leads to eternal life, to joy and peace?
Hear the words of Jesus. The wide, broad gate looks easier and more sensible, He said, but it is the way of the world, and leads only to destruction. It is that narrow gate, the road less traveled, that Mary chose, and it is the one that, though narrow and more difficult, you and I must choose, as well, for it is the path that leads to eternal life.
Jesus has such lovely manners! He could have slammed Martha with condemnation for her manner of address, her irritation, her attitude toward her sister, but He did none of those. Instead, he talked about the good choice Mary had made, and did it without really mentioning Martha's specific choice.
Mary, he said, had chosen the "good part", and that is the part I want to choose, as well. The word translated here as "good" is agathos and it is used to indicate good or useful. The word translated as "part" is meris and means "a part of the whole". Vine's describes the word as "a share, as of an inheritance". Putting the two words together, we find that agathos meris indicates the "best part" or the "best share of the inheritance". Thayer translates the two words together as a phrase meaning "the good part, which insures salvation to him who chooses it". Mary's choice gave her something very valuable, didn't it?
Of all the things the two women could have chosen that day, all the parts of the visit, Mary chose the one part that would give her salvation from the consequences of her sin and eternal life, as well. Mary's choice is even more appealing when we realize what Martha's choice netted for her. At the end of all her busyness, she probably had a clean house and a big meal, as well as an angry, frustrated heart and a very grumpy attitude, but no time spent with Jesus, no peace, no joy. This dichotomy of choice is true in my own life, as well. When I choose to spend time with Jesus, I find peace and joy in His presence, as well as direction for my day. When I choose the way of Martha, I find that same grumpy attitude that she found. Being busy makes the day go faster, and that sometimes seems like a good thing to me. Being busy and grumpy, however, is not.
What I want to do, what I must do, is choose the path of Mary, who made time with her Lord the priority of her life, above all others, for I want what Mary gained. Dear ones, you, too, have a choice to make. Will you choose the path of Mary? Will you choose the path that leads to eternal life, to joy and peace?
"Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. (Matthew 7:13-14 NASB)
Hear the words of Jesus. The wide, broad gate looks easier and more sensible, He said, but it is the way of the world, and leads only to destruction. It is that narrow gate, the road less traveled, that Mary chose, and it is the one that, though narrow and more difficult, you and I must choose, as well, for it is the path that leads to eternal life.
{There is one more phrase in this section that is so beautiful I'm saving it for tomorrow, so be sure to check back.}
Sunday, February 15, 2015
A visit at Martha's House, part 15: The Choice
But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:41-42 NASB)
We turn now to Mary, the sister whose choice was commended by Christ. The warmth I feel toward Mary is not because I disdain housework, nor that I would not want to prepare for guests or to help my sister. (Actually, I like a clean house, enjoy having guests, and have the greatest sister in the world.) What I love about this story is that Mary made one choice to do what she most wanted, and Jesus commended her for that choice. Oh, if the choices I make could always receive the commendation of Christ, what a glorious life it would be!
Perhaps, by looking at Mary's choosing, you and I can learn something important about our own choosing. The word translated here as "chosen" is eklegomai and literally means "to choose for oneself". This choosing of Mary's was not a rejecting of anything. Her choice was not as a result of rejecting Martha nor of rejecting housework or meal preparations. When Jesus arrived at the door of Martha's home, the two sisters had many options that included housework, meal preparations, running next door to tell everyone that Jesus was there, and turning Him away to protect themselves from those officials who wanted to destroy Him. They both had the choice to sit at the feet of Jesus, honor Him with their presence, and soak in every word, as well. Both sisters made their choices, but only one found peace and contentment there. Only one was commended for her choice by Christ.
Just as you and I must do, every day of our lives, the two sisters quickly surveyed multiple options and made their choice. Mary chose to revel in the presence of Jesus and, when you and I make that same choice, we can find the same peace and contentment she found. In fact, the choice to be busy or sit at the feet of Jesus is one I have to make every day, often multiple times a day. Sometimes, though I hate to admit it, I choose the way of Martha. As you might imagine, when I choose the way of Martha, I end up with the results of Martha, too, feeling put upon and chastised.
It is only when I choose the way of Mary, reveling in the presence and words of our Lord, that I find the joy and commendation of Christ, and you, too, can have that same joy, that same commendation. Mary did what faithful men and women have done for centuries. Like Joshua before her, she chose to serve the Lord with her presence and gained His peace. The wonderful news is that you and I can walk in their footsteps, choose their path, and have those same results.
Framed and hanging in a prominent position on my wall, this verse is one I see every day. This choice is one I must make on a daily basis, and one you must make, as well. Let us join Joshua, Mary, and all those before us who understood the truth of these words.
We turn now to Mary, the sister whose choice was commended by Christ. The warmth I feel toward Mary is not because I disdain housework, nor that I would not want to prepare for guests or to help my sister. (Actually, I like a clean house, enjoy having guests, and have the greatest sister in the world.) What I love about this story is that Mary made one choice to do what she most wanted, and Jesus commended her for that choice. Oh, if the choices I make could always receive the commendation of Christ, what a glorious life it would be!
Perhaps, by looking at Mary's choosing, you and I can learn something important about our own choosing. The word translated here as "chosen" is eklegomai and literally means "to choose for oneself". This choosing of Mary's was not a rejecting of anything. Her choice was not as a result of rejecting Martha nor of rejecting housework or meal preparations. When Jesus arrived at the door of Martha's home, the two sisters had many options that included housework, meal preparations, running next door to tell everyone that Jesus was there, and turning Him away to protect themselves from those officials who wanted to destroy Him. They both had the choice to sit at the feet of Jesus, honor Him with their presence, and soak in every word, as well. Both sisters made their choices, but only one found peace and contentment there. Only one was commended for her choice by Christ.
Just as you and I must do, every day of our lives, the two sisters quickly surveyed multiple options and made their choice. Mary chose to revel in the presence of Jesus and, when you and I make that same choice, we can find the same peace and contentment she found. In fact, the choice to be busy or sit at the feet of Jesus is one I have to make every day, often multiple times a day. Sometimes, though I hate to admit it, I choose the way of Martha. As you might imagine, when I choose the way of Martha, I end up with the results of Martha, too, feeling put upon and chastised.
It is only when I choose the way of Mary, reveling in the presence and words of our Lord, that I find the joy and commendation of Christ, and you, too, can have that same joy, that same commendation. Mary did what faithful men and women have done for centuries. Like Joshua before her, she chose to serve the Lord with her presence and gained His peace. The wonderful news is that you and I can walk in their footsteps, choose their path, and have those same results.
Framed and hanging in a prominent position on my wall, this verse is one I see every day. This choice is one I must make on a daily basis, and one you must make, as well. Let us join Joshua, Mary, and all those before us who understood the truth of these words.
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15 KJV)
If I want the commendation of Christ for the choice I make, that choice can only be Him above all others. Today, I choose Him. What choice will you make?
If I want the commendation of Christ for the choice I make, that choice can only be Him above all others. Today, I choose Him. What choice will you make?
Saturday, February 14, 2015
A visit at Martha's House, part 14: What to do with hurt feelings
But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:41-42 NASB)
Martha had scurried around, trying to make preparations for her visitors, while Mary sat contentedly at the feet of Jesus. The longer Martha scurried, the more frustrated she became about the lack of help offered by her sister. Finally, Martha took her frustration to Jesus. I've always been surprised by this. I would have continued to fume and grumble, rather than take my anger to Jesus as Martha did, because I would not have wanted to risk a reprimand. I would not have wanted conflict, especially in front of others.
Martha was willing to risk conflict for one reason. She believed that she was right and Mary was in the wrong. Martha would soon learn the same thing I have found. When we take our concerns to Jesus, He makes all things clear, and sometimes it is not what we expected nor what we hoped. When I take my frustration, anger, and hurt to Jesus, pouring out my heart, He is always gracious and kind, but He is also marvelously honest and unsparingly frank. The way He sees my situation is not always the way I see it. Sometimes, like Martha, I am frustrated and hurt, but also in the wrong.
The beautiful way that Jesus clarifies truth for me is the same way He did it for Martha. Rather than hammering Martha with all the ways that she was wrong, He gently pointed out the ways that Mary had done what was right. His kind manner allows me to see not only my own faults but also the wisdom, the rightness, of the other person. It has taken me years to trust our Lord enough to ask for the insight to see a troublesome situation the way He sees it. It has taken years to want His view of things rather than my own.
Dear ones, it is only when I take my hurt to our Lord and allow Him to show me that hurt, that situation, through His eyes that I begin to experience the depth of healing that He desires. It is only then that my fractured relationship can be healed as well, and that is a work that must begin in me. Have you, like me, experienced that frustration of thinking you are right and that someone else, who has hurt or upset you, is in the wrong? If so, then take that frustration, that hurt to Jesus and allow Him to do more than comfort you. Allow Him to enlighten and change you. Allow Him to bring healing from the inside out, for you will find, as I have, that after the healing comes peace and joy.
______
If you are looking for a light-hearted and humorous devotional, consider The Clay Papers, available at the online store. http://www.leannahollis.com/online-store/
Martha had scurried around, trying to make preparations for her visitors, while Mary sat contentedly at the feet of Jesus. The longer Martha scurried, the more frustrated she became about the lack of help offered by her sister. Finally, Martha took her frustration to Jesus. I've always been surprised by this. I would have continued to fume and grumble, rather than take my anger to Jesus as Martha did, because I would not have wanted to risk a reprimand. I would not have wanted conflict, especially in front of others.
Martha was willing to risk conflict for one reason. She believed that she was right and Mary was in the wrong. Martha would soon learn the same thing I have found. When we take our concerns to Jesus, He makes all things clear, and sometimes it is not what we expected nor what we hoped. When I take my frustration, anger, and hurt to Jesus, pouring out my heart, He is always gracious and kind, but He is also marvelously honest and unsparingly frank. The way He sees my situation is not always the way I see it. Sometimes, like Martha, I am frustrated and hurt, but also in the wrong.
The beautiful way that Jesus clarifies truth for me is the same way He did it for Martha. Rather than hammering Martha with all the ways that she was wrong, He gently pointed out the ways that Mary had done what was right. His kind manner allows me to see not only my own faults but also the wisdom, the rightness, of the other person. It has taken me years to trust our Lord enough to ask for the insight to see a troublesome situation the way He sees it. It has taken years to want His view of things rather than my own.
Dear ones, it is only when I take my hurt to our Lord and allow Him to show me that hurt, that situation, through His eyes that I begin to experience the depth of healing that He desires. It is only then that my fractured relationship can be healed as well, and that is a work that must begin in me. Have you, like me, experienced that frustration of thinking you are right and that someone else, who has hurt or upset you, is in the wrong? If so, then take that frustration, that hurt to Jesus and allow Him to do more than comfort you. Allow Him to enlighten and change you. Allow Him to bring healing from the inside out, for you will find, as I have, that after the healing comes peace and joy.
______
If you are looking for a light-hearted and humorous devotional, consider The Clay Papers, available at the online store. http://www.leannahollis.com/online-store/
Friday, February 13, 2015
A Visit at Martha's House, part 13:
But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:41-42 NASB)
There is a beautiful piece of wisdom here, and I don't want us to miss it. Martha, Jesus said, was worried about many things, but Mary had chosen the one thing that was necessary. What Mary had chosen, of course, was the Word of God, made flesh and sitting before her. She had chosen Jesus and His truth. This word translated as "necessary" is chreia, and can also be translated as "needed". Vine's Expository Dictionary tells us "This need represents a gap in the life which the wise word 'builds up', fills up solidly and surely."
What Jesus was telling Martha was that there is a place in our life that needs filling, and neither many worries nor the many things about which we worry can fill it. It is that God-shaped void about which Pascal wrote. Only the wise words of God, only our Lord, can fill that vacant place, and fill it solidly and surely.
For those of us who have sampled far too much of the world, perhaps that truth bears repeating.
There is no elegant dining experience, no designer clothing, no fancy car, no gigantic house, no exciting or passionate relationship, no lovely home furnishings or near-perfect children that can fill our vacant places. Only God can fill that empty, lonely place, and when we understand that foundational truth, we will begin to make better choices. Those things that have occupied us and divided our heart become of limited value when our heart is solidly filled with the Word of God. How does that happen? We make the choice to allow the filling. We open our Bibles and read, study, memorize.
If we still have a vacant, lonely place that needs filling, it is because we have not yet allowed God to fill our emptiness. Dear ones, offer that emptiness to the only One who can fill us completely, to the only One who can satisfy and immerse yourself in His words, His truth, His love. Let Him fill you completely, for only He can satisfy.
There is a beautiful piece of wisdom here, and I don't want us to miss it. Martha, Jesus said, was worried about many things, but Mary had chosen the one thing that was necessary. What Mary had chosen, of course, was the Word of God, made flesh and sitting before her. She had chosen Jesus and His truth. This word translated as "necessary" is chreia, and can also be translated as "needed". Vine's Expository Dictionary tells us "This need represents a gap in the life which the wise word 'builds up', fills up solidly and surely."
What Jesus was telling Martha was that there is a place in our life that needs filling, and neither many worries nor the many things about which we worry can fill it. It is that God-shaped void about which Pascal wrote. Only the wise words of God, only our Lord, can fill that vacant place, and fill it solidly and surely.
For those of us who have sampled far too much of the world, perhaps that truth bears repeating.
Only God can fill that vacant place in our hearts, and fill it both solidly and surely.
If we still have a vacant, lonely place that needs filling, it is because we have not yet allowed God to fill our emptiness. Dear ones, offer that emptiness to the only One who can fill us completely, to the only One who can satisfy and immerse yourself in His words, His truth, His love. Let Him fill you completely, for only He can satisfy.
A Visit at Martha's House: The Clamor
But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; (Luke 10:41 NASB)
Worried and bothered.
Those are the words Jesus used to describe Martha, and they could likely describe us, as well. We saw in the previous post that the word translated as "worried" came from a root word meaning "divided". We turn now to the word translated as "bothered". The word is thorybazĊ and is defined as "disturbed". The root word from which it is derived paints a wonderful word picture that describes a worried heart quite nicely. Thorybos is defined as "a noise, tumult, uproar" and is used to describe a clamoring, rioting crowd. Isn't that how worry attacks our mind? When we focus on our perceived problems or what might become our problems, they can occupy our minds just as a large number of people might fill a room past a comfortable capacity.
Selah. Pause and consider.
Stop for a moment and think about the issues and possibilities that trouble you. Think about how quickly they can occupy your mind, becoming a tumult of confusion that crowds out your peace, your joy, your hope. Just as Martha found that her worries about the preparations for Jesus and His disciples crowded out her desire to sit at his feet and learn from Him, so, too, when we allow worries and fears to overtake us, they can crowd out our desire to follow faithfully. Our Lord intended that we have singleness of purpose, with our sole intent being to follow Him in obedience, trusting that He would meet every need.
The problem often comes when He meets our needs but not our desires. It is then that we have the opportunity to press in, know Him better, allow Him to change our desires. What happens instead, all too often, is that we resent the provision He sends, demand more, then accuse God of not caring when he does not provide that which He did not mean for us to have. Our resentment opens the door to frustration and the clamoring crowd of worry and fear that can easily overtake us.
We, like Martha, have a choice. We can turn our focus away from Jesus and allow the clamor of worry and fear to crowd our minds or we can turn our focus to Jesus and Him only, trusting that He will handle every need we have, every situation that comes our way.
We cannot be a follower without following. Dear ones, if we claim to be followers of Jesus, then we must follow. There is no room for divided loyalties, no room for a heart and mind filled with the clamor of worry and fear.
We learned this song as children, but there is great truth in the words.
"Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace."
Helen Lemmel, 1922(1)
Today, let's do exactly what these beautiful words recommend. Turn our eyes to Jesus and look full in His wonderful face. We might be surprised by the sweetness we find when His glory and grace replace our clamor and fear.
(1)http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Turn_Your_Eyes_upon_Jesus/. Accessed 2/12/15
Thursday, February 12, 2015
A Visit at Martha's House, part 11: the divided heart
But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:41-42 NASB)
To be rebuked by the Lord seems a terrible thing, but look how gently Jesus spoke to Martha. He could have told her to "sit down and listen up", but He did not. Instead, He gently rebuked her with love and kindness. Read what He told Martha aloud and you will find great tenderness in the words. Martha' rebuke should serve as encouragement for us to take any concern, any fear, to our Lord, confident that He will respond with tender kindness, even when a rebuke is in order.
The word translated here as "worried" is merimnaĊ. It is most often translated as "worried" but can also be used to indicate "anxious" or "concerned". It comes from a root word meaning "to divide" and that is a pretty good description of what happens when we worry. Instead of staying focused on Jesus, Martha had allowed her heart and mind to be divided by many cares. She was likely worried about the meal preparations, how to feed so many men, how to stretch her budget to cover the expense, where they would sleep. She may have even worried about what the enemies of Jesus would do to her for welcoming Him into her home. Martha was "divided" and, as a result, she was unhappy and fussy, not only with her sister, but even with God Himself.
This business of a divided heart is one we would do well to avoid. Jesus made it very clear that we cannot serve two masters.
To be rebuked by the Lord seems a terrible thing, but look how gently Jesus spoke to Martha. He could have told her to "sit down and listen up", but He did not. Instead, He gently rebuked her with love and kindness. Read what He told Martha aloud and you will find great tenderness in the words. Martha' rebuke should serve as encouragement for us to take any concern, any fear, to our Lord, confident that He will respond with tender kindness, even when a rebuke is in order.
The word translated here as "worried" is merimnaĊ. It is most often translated as "worried" but can also be used to indicate "anxious" or "concerned". It comes from a root word meaning "to divide" and that is a pretty good description of what happens when we worry. Instead of staying focused on Jesus, Martha had allowed her heart and mind to be divided by many cares. She was likely worried about the meal preparations, how to feed so many men, how to stretch her budget to cover the expense, where they would sleep. She may have even worried about what the enemies of Jesus would do to her for welcoming Him into her home. Martha was "divided" and, as a result, she was unhappy and fussy, not only with her sister, but even with God Himself.
This business of a divided heart is one we would do well to avoid. Jesus made it very clear that we cannot serve two masters.
"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. (Matthew 6:24 NASB)
He was speaking specifically about serving God and wealth, but it is equally true for anything that divides our heart for God. We cannot serve God wholeheartedly and also serve our own purposes at the same time. Martha found that to be true, and so must we. In contrast, when our heart is wholly devoted to our Lord, everything we do can become a service for Him.
What about our own hearts? Are we worried and bothered about many things, or are we focusing all our heart on Jesus? Dear ones, only Jesus deserves the position of Master of our heart. He bought and paid for it with His own precious blood. What is it that divides your heart? What keeps you from serving Him with your whole heart? Let's give Him all the divided pieces of our heart and allow Him to replace those pieces with a unified, whole, focused heart, intent on loving and serving the One who loves us most.
What about our own hearts? Are we worried and bothered about many things, or are we focusing all our heart on Jesus? Dear ones, only Jesus deserves the position of Master of our heart. He bought and paid for it with His own precious blood. What is it that divides your heart? What keeps you from serving Him with your whole heart? Let's give Him all the divided pieces of our heart and allow Him to replace those pieces with a unified, whole, focused heart, intent on loving and serving the One who loves us most.
Monday, February 9, 2015
Visit at Martha's House, part 8
Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord's feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me." (Luke 10:38-40 NASB)
I don't know that Martha was the older sister, but she was certainly bossy enough to be. What strikes me as remarkable is that Mary was able to sit down at the feet of Jesus and stay there, despite her sister's protest. Martha was clearly in charge and was scurrying about making the preparations needed for the visitors. The fact that Martha approached Jesus, asking Him to send Mary to help with preparations makes me think that she had already tried and failed to get Mary's attention and call her to the work as well. Mary was stuck like glue at the feet of Jesus.
What was Mary doing? She was sitting, worshipping, listening to every word. In fact, Mary was making preparations of her own, but neither she nor Martha likely knew that. At this point in Jesus' ministry, His time on earth was short and, if His followers were to be prepared for the hard times that would follow His death, the persecution that would follow, the sorrow followed by joy that would follow, they had to take advantage of time spent with Him while they could. Mary was savoring time with her Lord, spending it worshipping at His feet, and she was commended for it.
Certainly she could have been whipping up something special for the meal, preparing something lovely to give Jesus, but her gift of time and attention pleased Him far more than the effort her sister expended. Martha gave Jesus a gift of service, but Mary gave Him a gift of love. It's easy to forget how important that love for our Lord is to Him, but a quick look at the greatest commandment should remind us.
I don't know that Martha was the older sister, but she was certainly bossy enough to be. What strikes me as remarkable is that Mary was able to sit down at the feet of Jesus and stay there, despite her sister's protest. Martha was clearly in charge and was scurrying about making the preparations needed for the visitors. The fact that Martha approached Jesus, asking Him to send Mary to help with preparations makes me think that she had already tried and failed to get Mary's attention and call her to the work as well. Mary was stuck like glue at the feet of Jesus.
What was Mary doing? She was sitting, worshipping, listening to every word. In fact, Mary was making preparations of her own, but neither she nor Martha likely knew that. At this point in Jesus' ministry, His time on earth was short and, if His followers were to be prepared for the hard times that would follow His death, the persecution that would follow, the sorrow followed by joy that would follow, they had to take advantage of time spent with Him while they could. Mary was savoring time with her Lord, spending it worshipping at His feet, and she was commended for it.
Certainly she could have been whipping up something special for the meal, preparing something lovely to give Jesus, but her gift of time and attention pleased Him far more than the effort her sister expended. Martha gave Jesus a gift of service, but Mary gave Him a gift of love. It's easy to forget how important that love for our Lord is to Him, but a quick look at the greatest commandment should remind us.
And he answered, "YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." (Luke 10:27 NASB)
All our service matters little if love is not at the root of it. Dear ones, in order to be prepared for whatever is ahead, in order to please our Lord, we must spend time at the feet of Jesus. We must choose that service of ready attention, of worship, first of all. Being the hands and feet of Jesus is important, but we must also have the heart of Jesus, and that comes only by spending time with Him. We, too, must be like Mary, stuck like glue at the feet of our Lord, not distracted by the busyness the world offers.
When it comes to service, we have a choice to make. Let us first choose love.
All our service matters little if love is not at the root of it. Dear ones, in order to be prepared for whatever is ahead, in order to please our Lord, we must spend time at the feet of Jesus. We must choose that service of ready attention, of worship, first of all. Being the hands and feet of Jesus is important, but we must also have the heart of Jesus, and that comes only by spending time with Him. We, too, must be like Mary, stuck like glue at the feet of our Lord, not distracted by the busyness the world offers.
When it comes to service, we have a choice to make. Let us first choose love.
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
A Visit at Martha's House, part 4
But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me." (Luke 10:40 NASB)
Jesus was a welcome visitor in Martha's home, but Mary was the one sitting at His feet, soaking in every word He spoke. Martha was busy with meal preparation and, in her busyness, had grown frustrated with the amount of work she was doing without assistance. Of course, the work would have gone faster with an extra set of hands, but Martha had not stopped to consider whether all her work and preparations were necessary or whether they were what the Lord desired. In fact, as we will soon see, they were not.
The word translated as "distracted" is perispaĊ and literally means to be "over-occupied", to "drag around", "to be driven about mentally". In essence, Martha was so busy with the work she had decided to do that it was like a weight, dragging her around. It was heavy and burdensome. The weight of her burden of busy had robbed her of the joy of service and, as a result, she had become resentful of her sister and the time she spent at the feet of Jesus.
In fact, the time Jesus had left on earth was short. If time was to be spent at the feet of Jesus, it needed to be done, for further opportunities to do so would be scarce. Martha, had she known, might not have spent that limited time with meal preparations. Perhaps she, too, would have been at the feet of Jesus.
There is, of course, no way to know how much time we, or our loved ones, have left on this earth, but it is imperative that we spend whatever time we have wisely. Although the tasks we accomplish in our busyness may be useful, are they what Jesus would most desire? Is the outcome a closer relationship with Him, or frustration and irritation with those around us who love Him more?
As we plan the activities of our day, let's be sure that we make time with Christ our priority, and that our activities are ones that would most please Him. Live well and love well, for time is short. May we live so that, no matter what comes, there will be no cause for regret.
Jesus was a welcome visitor in Martha's home, but Mary was the one sitting at His feet, soaking in every word He spoke. Martha was busy with meal preparation and, in her busyness, had grown frustrated with the amount of work she was doing without assistance. Of course, the work would have gone faster with an extra set of hands, but Martha had not stopped to consider whether all her work and preparations were necessary or whether they were what the Lord desired. In fact, as we will soon see, they were not.
The word translated as "distracted" is perispaĊ and literally means to be "over-occupied", to "drag around", "to be driven about mentally". In essence, Martha was so busy with the work she had decided to do that it was like a weight, dragging her around. It was heavy and burdensome. The weight of her burden of busy had robbed her of the joy of service and, as a result, she had become resentful of her sister and the time she spent at the feet of Jesus.
In fact, the time Jesus had left on earth was short. If time was to be spent at the feet of Jesus, it needed to be done, for further opportunities to do so would be scarce. Martha, had she known, might not have spent that limited time with meal preparations. Perhaps she, too, would have been at the feet of Jesus.
There is, of course, no way to know how much time we, or our loved ones, have left on this earth, but it is imperative that we spend whatever time we have wisely. Although the tasks we accomplish in our busyness may be useful, are they what Jesus would most desire? Is the outcome a closer relationship with Him, or frustration and irritation with those around us who love Him more?
As we plan the activities of our day, let's be sure that we make time with Christ our priority, and that our activities are ones that would most please Him. Live well and love well, for time is short. May we live so that, no matter what comes, there will be no cause for regret.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
A Visit at Martha's House, part 3
Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord's feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me." (Luke 10:38-40 NASB)
There is a tendency for us to think that Mary had a wonderful response to Jesus' visit and that Martha had a totally poor response. In fact, Martha began by welcoming Jesus warmly and sincerely. She was delighted to see Him and His disciples. She welcomed Him in, found Him a place to sit, and made Him comfortable, then began preparations for a meal for her guests. It was her home and, she felt, her responsibility. The problem was that Martha let preparations for the meal and her idea of service override spending time with her Lord. She began well, but she didn't stay the course.
Mary, on the other hand, was also delighted to see Jesus. She responded to His presence by sitting at His feet, just as a student would with their teacher, and listening to Him talk. She hung on every word because she wanted those words to be alive in her life. She was soaking in His presence and nothing else mattered. It was His words, not His dinner, that mattered most to Mary.
We live in a society that is consumed with doing, with a constant barrage of activities that threaten to overwhelm us completely. In the midst of busyness, our tendency is to soldier on, never stopping to make a change. Are you overwhelmed by busy? Is every minute of your day scheduled, every day of your week too full? How much of that time is spent worshipping and learning at the feet of Jesus?
Our Lord comes to us every day with opportunities to spend time with Him. He desires our service, and there is no doubt about that, but the first service He desires is our attentive presence at His feet. No matter what else we do to serve our Lord, we must begin at His feet, eager, listening, and willing to learn from our Master and to worship Him. Let's be sure we have the heart of Mary, seeking His kingdom and His righteousness before all else. When we do, everything else will fall in place.
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33 NASB)
There is a tendency for us to think that Mary had a wonderful response to Jesus' visit and that Martha had a totally poor response. In fact, Martha began by welcoming Jesus warmly and sincerely. She was delighted to see Him and His disciples. She welcomed Him in, found Him a place to sit, and made Him comfortable, then began preparations for a meal for her guests. It was her home and, she felt, her responsibility. The problem was that Martha let preparations for the meal and her idea of service override spending time with her Lord. She began well, but she didn't stay the course.
Mary, on the other hand, was also delighted to see Jesus. She responded to His presence by sitting at His feet, just as a student would with their teacher, and listening to Him talk. She hung on every word because she wanted those words to be alive in her life. She was soaking in His presence and nothing else mattered. It was His words, not His dinner, that mattered most to Mary.
We live in a society that is consumed with doing, with a constant barrage of activities that threaten to overwhelm us completely. In the midst of busyness, our tendency is to soldier on, never stopping to make a change. Are you overwhelmed by busy? Is every minute of your day scheduled, every day of your week too full? How much of that time is spent worshipping and learning at the feet of Jesus?
Our Lord comes to us every day with opportunities to spend time with Him. He desires our service, and there is no doubt about that, but the first service He desires is our attentive presence at His feet. No matter what else we do to serve our Lord, we must begin at His feet, eager, listening, and willing to learn from our Master and to worship Him. Let's be sure we have the heart of Mary, seeking His kingdom and His righteousness before all else. When we do, everything else will fall in place.
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33 NASB)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)